NC26-The Tanzania Great Wildebeest Migration Safari 2023 -2024

This package includes an optional strenuous trek up Ol Donyo Lengai, the Maasai holy volcano. It is a steep walk on loose volcanic earth. The climb is about a 2100-meter ascent, around 700 meters above sea level. If you are not fit enough for such a trek or are not interested, you stay in bed. The others who do the trek get up at 01:00 to start their 5-hour climb at 02:00 from the base camp!

At the end of this tour, you can visit the Hadzabe people, the only remaining bushmen in Tanzania. You can stay with the Hadzabe in their village or go with their hunter’s daily hunt for food. They use bows and arrows to kill monkeys and other wild animals. If you do not wish to experience that, stay in the village until the hunters return. In any case, we recommend that you not eat any bushmeat that the hunters may cook in the forest or village due to health risks. They do accept a polite refusal.

Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park.

We will pick you up at the agreed point in Arusha (hotel, airport, etc.) and depart to Tarangire National Park in time for a sunset game drive. Tarangire National Park covers an area of 2,600 sq. km and was established in 1970. The park has numerous baobab trees that will primarily catch your attention. The Park derived its name from the Tarangire River, which rises in the highlands of Central Tanzania, and winds its way through the game sanctuary. The river beguilingly lures the herds of plains migrants from the desiccated surrounding area to its shrunken – but permanent – brackish waters during the dry season. The animals come by thousands from as far north as the shores of Lake Natron to the bank of this river, significantly swelling the resident population with wildebeest, zebra, eland, elephant, hartebeest, buffalo, and fringe-eared Oryx. During the dry season, the Tarangire pools are clotted with thirsty migrants, and the elephants begin to dig for underground streams in the dry riverbed. Tarangire National Park is said to have the highest recorded number of breeding bird species for any habitat in the world.

Day 2: Tarangire - Lake Natron - optional: climb Ol Donyo Lengai

An early morning 2-hour sunrise game drive in Tarangire National Park. Return to the camp for brunch, leave the park, and drive to Lake Natron. On Arrival, visit Lake Natron, one of the most alkaline lakes in the world. Home to millions of tiny crustaceans, the lake is a haven for thousands of lesser flamingos and one of the most important flamingo breeding grounds on earth. The area around the lake is dry and desolate. The strangely beautiful landscape is the attraction in this area. After a strenuous walk up the stream, we reach the river’s source in the cascading waterfalls that gush out of the mountains. It is an excellent swim in the river and under the waterfalls for a cool-down from the hot sun. There may be baboons or other wildlife in the gorge.

An early dinner and some sleep for those climbing Ol Donyo Lengai. At 1:00 a.m., the driver will be driven to the base of the Ol’doinyo Lengai mountain to start the climb. Reach the summit during sunrise and spend some time there before coming down to the mountain base. Clients will then be transferred by jeep to your lodgings for a shower and rest.

Day 3: Lake Natron - Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park. After the registration formalities at Klein’s Gate, you will go for a game drive in the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park (on your way to your lodgings). There will be ample opportunity to observe lots of animals and birds. Zebras, buffalo, baboon, topi, impala, cheetah, leopard, and recently introduced rhinos may be seen.

Day 4: Serengeti (Lobo area) - Northern Serengeti (Wagakuria area)

After breakfast, we head towards the far northern reaches of the Serengeti National Park, also known as the Wagakuria. It is a game drive en route from the Lobo area to the Wagakuria area. As we head north, good sightings of giraffes, plains game, herds of buffalo, and elephants can often be seen. You arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, and after lunch, you will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the area. The wildebeest migration can normally be found in the Wagakuria area from July to November, depending on rainfall patterns. A long stretch of the Mara River runs through the northern Serengeti National Park, and the Mara River provides the migrating herds with their most difficult obstacle. Witnessing the frantic herds of wildebeest crossing the Mara River is amazing.

Day 5: Full day Game drive: Serengeti Lobo Area - Serengeti Seronera

After breakfast, we leave with your lunch box and drive to Lobo, and the Grumeti River has good resident games throughout the year. A non-migrating games like elephant, buffalo, gazelle, zebra, lion, leopard, and cheetah can be seen all year round. The game viewing is excellent, and you can follow the game for long periods without seeing other vehicles – truly one of the forgotten corners of the Serengeti Plains. Magnificent riverine trees can be found along the river lines, and birdlife such as kingfishers and fish eagles can be found here.

Day 6: Central Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, we depart to the Ngorongoro Conservation area with game viewing on the route. You will stop over at a Maasai Boma, boasting a history dating back to the dawn of their life and culture. En route to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will visit the historic site of Olduvai Gorge (The Cradle of Mankind), where the world-famous archaeologist, Dr Leakey, discovered the remains of the early man. After visiting the Gorge and the small museum, we continue to the Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Tour - Lake Eyasi

After breakfast, we descend to the Crater floor for a game drive. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest collapsed volcanic crater in the world – 8,292 km2 of isolated natural beauty. A ring of extinct volcanoes surrounds Ngorongoro Crater, and the floor, dotted with watering holes, shelters some 30,000 animals. You can expect to see lions, elephants, zebra, hippos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes,e, and many birds. The birds seen here include the eagle, vulture, flamingo (in Lake Magadi), stork, sacred ibis, kori bustard, blacksmith plover, long-necked heron, and cattle egret. A picnic lunch will take place at a hippo pool. Later we ascend to the rim and depart for Lake Eyasi for your dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Lake Eyasi Hunting with Hadzabe Bushmen - Arusha

Before breakfast, you will be woken by your local guide, ready for a hunting safari with Hadzabe. The Hadzabe are the last of the hunter-gatherer tribes in Tanzania. You can observe their daily lives and even join the men in hunting. You will be searching for an animal to hunt using local weapons. (Remember, this isn’t inside the national parks but outside the parks). You will be back for breakfast and the preparation of a barbeque. If you are interested, you can share the meal with the Hadzabe who inhabit the region. After lunch, we drive back to the agreed drop-off point in Arusha.

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• All activities as per the itinerary
• All Accommodation as per itinerary – N.B. accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is dependent on availabilty at the time of booking; alternatives of a similar class may be booked instead
• All meals as per itinerary (3 a day unless otherwise stated)
• All transfers to and from agreed pick up and drop off points (e.g. Airport, Bus Station or hotel in town etc)
• All camping gear (if you are camping)
• Service of an English speaking driver/guide
• Safari base 4×4 Vehicle with open roof for game viewing (sometimes a saloon car or other SUV for excursions in town etc.)
• Driver’s salary and allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
• Bottled mineral water daily
• All Government taxes
• All Museum Fees.
• All Historic and Culture Site or Event Fees

• Extras, personal expenses i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
• Optional activities not outlined on the itinerary
• International flights & corresponding taxes
• Visa
• Flying doctors rescue services
• Travel, medical, injury and luggage insurances
• Tips to the driver & guides
• Anything else not mentioned in the inclusions (above).